Werecat
Appearance
Werecats typically resemble regular small jungle cats, but can take on the form of humanoid catfolk that are about the size of halflings or dwarves at the largest. They can shift into a fully hairless humanoid form as well that allows them the luxury of mingling with society in rare cases.
Naming Convention
Werecats tend to name their members with the suffixes -ix and -tor to indicate gender. Such as Myam-ix or Gyam-tor.
Biology
Werecats stand no higher than 4 feet, with three forms. Their normal form is that of a cat about the size of a small lynx or ocelot. They have fur patterns that can match any known catfolk fur pattern. Their beast form rises up onto it's rear legs and takes on a more ferocious appearance, giving them more humanistic abilities. Their 'skin' form looks like a small elf or hobbit, usually with hair that matches their fur pattern.
Geography
Werecats are known to inhabit deep forests, most notably 11. The Eveningwood. Their tribes are few and far between with only small clusters of them left on Erendia numbering a few hundred at most.
Tabaxi
Appearance
Tabaxi are sleeker, more catlike humanoids that share many traits with common house cats. Their agile forms are covered in short cat-like hair and they have eyes that function similar to a cat.
Naming Convention
Tabaxi culture loves the hyphenated name schemes. Generally their names can be hyphenated syllables that can sound like conventional Asian names, such as Ko-shee (Koshi) or Ta-naka (Tanaka).
Biology
Tabaxi are more slender and often shorter than their Kitari cousins. They take on features that more resemble house cats or smaller wild cats, and they typically sport short hair that covers their entire bodies. They can thrive in most climates due to the way their skin regulates temperature. They have excellent vision, aided by their catlike eye structure, and their ears function similarly to cats as well, being able to swivel to accommodate directional hearing.
Geography
Tabaxi tribes are nomadic and small, and generally found in the southern half of Erendia. They prefer lightly wooded areas but some tribes have made the unforgiving desert in Baharat their home.
Kitari
Appearance
Kitari are typically larger than their cousins, and sport more elaborate fur patterns. Due to their added size and genetic disposition, they also possess greater strength on average.
Naming Convention
Kitari have a similar naming convention to Tabaxi, with hyphens carrying a major weight. Examples of Kitari names would be Kee-Ra, or Kor-shel. Depending on whether the Kitari belongs to a tribe, this name may be augmented with a tribal honorific as well, such as A-Kee-Ra, indicating a tribal allegiance.
Biology
Kitari stand about on average with humans, ranging from the low 5s to the high 6 foot range. They have bulkier muscular structures and take on traits from the appearance of large jungle or plains cats like tigers or panthers. They share the vision and hearing features of their cousins.
Geography
Due to their thicker fur and larger bodies, Kitari are more suited to colder climates, and thus they are most commonly found in small tribes in the Northern Wilds. Some Kitari join mixed society, however, preferring the more civilized life.
Leonin
Appearance
Probably the rarest of the catfolk, a Leonin is considered a sight to behold. They are majestic creatures, capable of great strength and great wisdom.
Naming Convention
Leonin are the only catfolk that stray from the hyphenated naming structure of their cousins. Typically Leonin names are similar to human names depending on where they are from, for example 'Aslan', or 'Ephram'.
Biology
By far the largest of the catfolk, Leonin typically stand between six and eight feet tall with broad, muscular builds. They have features like lions and often take as much pride in their manes as dwarves do their beards. Their eyes are exceptional and their hearing just as such, capable of spotting a silent intruder in pitch blackness or hearing a pin drop across a banquet hall.
Geography
There are no known Leonin tribes, and the few Leonin that are integrated into society were born to Leonin parents. It's thought that Leonin are celestial catfolk that originally spawned from the Astral Sea.